Merkur Open Comb Travel Razor - First Impressions/Open to Suggestions

[cfender]

I couldn't resist this nifty little kit with the tiny leather case. I bought the open comb version since I use a Slant as my daily driver and wanted something as close to the aggressiveness as the Slant for my travel razor.

After (5) days of use I conclude that this travel razor is just too frickin mild. Even with a fresh Feather, I needed to execute too many passes and too much touch-up and STILL had stubble left in spots. (It reminded me of my Red Tip Superspeed which was also frustrating for me.) I was getting used to it but when I returned to my Slant this morning I said to myself, "I need to get something else for travel".

I certainly have enough space to take along the Slant but I really like the esthetics of the travel kit and how the razor disessembles flat. I also like to have a razor that I leave in my Dopp ready to go. Anything out there new or vintage in a travel model that might satisfy me? Is there another Merkur head that is more aggressive that I could screw on?

[sas71]

I couldn't resist this nifty little kit with the tiny leather case. I bought the open comb version since I use a Slant as my daily driver and wanted something as close to the aggressiveness as the Slant for my travel razor.

After (5) days of use I conclude that this travel razor is just too frickin mild. Even with a fresh Feather, I needed to execute too many passes and too much touch-up and STILL had stubble left in spots. (It reminded me of my Red Tip Superspeed which was also frustrating for me.) I was getting used to it but when I returned to my Slant this morning I said to myself, "I need to get something else for travel".

I certainly have enough space to take along the Slant but I really like the esthetics of the travel kit and how the razor disessembles flat. I also like to have a razor that I leave in my Dopp ready to go. Anything out there new or vintage in a travel model that might satisfy me? Is there another Merkur head that is more aggressive that I could screw on?

sounds like you need straight razor.......or a chainsaw

[Den]

I have a Merkur 15C which I'm sure has the same head as the OC Travel Razor. I also find it too mild, even with a Feather. Some time ago I read on these boards that some people make mild razors more aggressive by adding a spacer/shimmy between the base plate and blade. Take an old blade, or a new one (they're so cheap) and then take an old pair of scissors and cut off the sharp edges. Place it between the bottom plate and your shaving blade and you've just made your razor a touch more aggressive. Add as many spacers you want for the desire level of aggressiveness.

[Pkrankow]

I have the 1904 with the bar, and it is a whole lot more aggressive than any of my OC razors.

Funny thing is now that I use a straight regularly, I like a more mild shave from a DE, think Slim on 3-5 or one of my OC razors. I can't use the 1904 anymore (but my wife bought it for me, so don't ask for it)

Phil

[cfender]

OP here. I went home, pulled out my 23c and realized that the head fits on the Merkur travel razor. The 23c is also mild but not as much as the frickin travel razor. This will hopefully be a more acceptable travel solution. I'd love to have a travel version of the Slant but that has a different head assembly.

The "shimming" solution is also intriguing. If the 23c head still feels unsatisfying I'll try that approach.

BTW, does the 34c have a different head than the 23c? The B&B Wiki shows it as having a wider blade gap. Does it have the same assembly type as the 23c?

[ateace]

You could get the Merkur travel razor with the closed safety bar.

[cfender]

You could get the Merkur travel razor with the closed safety bar.

Is the closed safety bar version decidedly more aggressive than the open comb version?

[Alum of Potash]

I have both the 11C and the OC travel version. The travel razor, while significantly lighter than the 11C, does not seem much less aggressive to me--but then again, I do find a Gillette "New" a tad too aggressive in comparison to the 11C. I like the travel razor when travelling, especially as I often find myself in tight locations and pressed for time in such cases. The only problem I have with the travel razor is that it tightens at the head, whereas the 11C tightens from the bottom of the handle, so when I return home there is a tendency for me to try to wrench the 11C open from the head when flipping the blade!

This may seem pretty obvious, but have you experimented with different angles with it while shaving? A different weight can yield a different balance, and consequently, a different angle.

[ateace]

Is the closed safety bar version decidedly more aggressive than the open comb version?

My experience is that the closed comb is more aggressive and more intuitive than the OC